Strip-feeding device.



G. W. BOWERS.

STRIP FEEDING DEVICE.

1 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1917. 1,251,331. Patented Dec. 25,1917;

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15 V 5 1 George Wlliowers,

G. W. BOWERS.

STRIP FEEDING DEVICE.

APPLiCATlON men MAR. 15, 1911.

Patented Eec 25,1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT onnion.

GEORGE W. BOWERS, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BROADFIELD POULTRY FARM, INC., OF BOLTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

STRIP-FEEDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec..25, 1917.

Original application filed November 11, 1916, Serial No. 130,897. Divided and this application filed March 15, 1917. Serial No. 155,108.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE IV. BowERs, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Strip-Feeding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to strip feeding mechanisms particularly adapted for use in connection with machines for assembling trays for egg-cases, such as is shown and described in an application No. 130,897, filed by me November 11, 1916, and of which this application is a division.

The invention has for its object the provision of means whereby a plurality of strips may be confined in a plurality of compartments and a single strip withdrawn from each of said compartments simultaneously, andas withdrawn from said compartments twisted into a vertical position preparatory to being seized by needles and drawn through slots in a filler for'egg cases.

The invention consists primarily of a hopper provided with a plurality of strip containing compartments, said hopper having a movable bottom provided with shouldered members to'engage the lowest strips and discharge them from said compartments into tubular guide members extending from the side of the hopper in alinement with the various compartments.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be fully understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given. 7

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities. as herein shown and described.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a horizontal plan of a strip feeding mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 represents an elevatlon of the same, with a portion thereof shown in section, and

Fig. 3 represents a section of the same on line 33 on Fig. 2.

Similar characters designate like parts slid'abl e bottom 99 adapted to be recipro cated on revoluble supports 100, as. shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. This bottom 99 extends beyond the rear wall of the hopper and has secured to the upper face of its rear portion a plurality of pushers 101 projecting into the compartments 98, the width andv thickness of each pusher corresponding to the width and thickness of the strips contained within said compartments. The lower edge of the front wall 102 of the hopper 97 is separated from the upper face of the bottom 99 a distance slightly in excess of the thickness of the strips in the con1partment 98.

The front portion of the upper face of the bottom 99 is provided with a plurality of grooves 103 as shown in Figs. 1,2, and 3. Into each groove 103 beneath the lower edge of the wall 102 projects an extension 104 of a tubular member 105 which is twisted so that the rear portion thereof is horizontal and the front portion thereof is verticahas shown in' Fig. 3. The rear portion of said twisted tubular member is secured to the wall 102 by the screw 106, while the front end is positioned in the bifurcated member 107 having a threaded shank 1'08 extending through a slotted bar 109 supported from the wall 102 by the ribs 110.

By loosening the nuts 111 and 112 on the threaded shank 108, the bifurcated member 107 with the front. endof the tubular member 105 therein may be adjusted vertically as desired, and also longitudinally of the slot in the bar 109 and then again clamped in adjusted position. From the under face of the bottom 99 project ears 113 having a rod 114 extending therethrough. To each outer end of the rod 114 is secured one end of a spring 115, the opposite end of which is secured to the frame of the machine to which said hopper is secured. The opposite ends of the rods 114 extend through slots 116 in levers 117 pivoted at 118 to the outer walls of the hopper 97. The opposite ends of the lever 117 have pivoted thereto a U-shaped member 119 to which is secured a rod 120, the opposite end of whichis secured to any convenient actuating member.

The machine is provided with a plurality of pairs of needles 132 which are adapted to be reciprocated toward and from the hopper 97. The forward ends of each pair of needles are provided with hooked projections 140 adapted to engage with notches 141 in the opposite edges of the strips 142 when pushed from the bottoms of the compartments 98 by the shouldered pushers 101 secured to the reciprocating bottom 99.

The bottom plate 99 is moved toward the front of the hopper by the devices actuating the connecting rod 120. This connecting rod 120 operates the pivoted lever 117 to effect a forward movement of said bottom plate 99 so that the pushers 101 thereon may engage the lower strips in the compartments 98 and move them forwardly beneath the wall 102 into the tubular members 105. As the front ends of the strips 142 pass outwardly from the tubular member 105 they enter between a fixed jaw 143 and a spring pressed jaw 144, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. These jaws are shown clearly in the application #130,897, to which reference may be made for a complete description of their operation. The tension of the spring jaw 144 is such as to force the front end of the strip 142 into locking engagement with the hooks 140 of the needles 132, these needles entering the notches 141 in the upper and lower edges of the strips, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The fixed jaw 143 is secured to a bracket 146 secured to a plate 147 superimposed upon the plate 55. Each spring jaw 144 is pivoted at 148 to the bracket 146. Each fixed jaw has projecting laterally therefrom a headed member 149 extending through a slot in the spring jaw 144, having a spring surrounding the shank thereof, all as described in the beforementioned application #130,897. The tension of this spring is to retain the jaws 143-144 in coacting relation to each other, and is suhicient to force the hooks 140 of the needles 132 into the notches 141 of the strips 142. After the hooks 140 have been engaged in the notches of the springs 142 the strips may be drawn through the slits 67 of the blocks 66, and in doing so these strips will be passed through slits in the partition walls of the egg case filled shown and described in the aforesaid application and supported on said blocks.

To the rear of the hopper 97 is secured a rectangular frame 159 surrounding and in the same plane with the reciprocating bottom 99. The rear bar 159 of said frame is provided with a plurality of hubs 160 in each of which is mounted a buffer 161, the outer ends of which are threaded and provided with nuts 162 thereon. Between these nuts 162 and the rear ends of the hubs 160 are interposed springs 163. Each buffer member 161 is provided with a head 164 at its inner end between which and the bar 159 is a spring 165 having greater tension than the spring 163. Inserted in the inner end of each buffer member 161 is a. plug 166 of felt or some similar fibrous material. WVhen the bottom 99 is moved toward the rear of the hopper, said bottom 99 will strike against the buffers 161 and the springs 165 will yield sufliciently to prevent any shock as the bottom 99 is gradually brought to a stop.

hen further rearward movement of the bottom 99 is prevented, the springs 165 will return the buffer members 161 to their normal positions as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the lighter springs 163 limiting the forward movement thereof.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of this invention will be fully understood from the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a hopper having a plurality of compartments adapted to contain strips; a slidable bottom therefor extending beneath all of said compartments and provided with a plurality of raised portions extending into said compartments and adapted in their forward movement to engage the lower strips; means for moving said bottom to remove the lower strips in said compartments and subsequently returning said bottom to its normal position. 7

2. In a machine of the class described, a hopper having a plurality of compartments adapted to contain strips; a slidable bottom therefor extending beneath all of said compartments and provided with a plurality of raised portions extending into said compartments and adapted in their forward movement to engage the lower strips; means for moving said bottom to remove the lower strips in said compartments, and a guide in front of each compartment into which said strips are adapted to be fed.

3. In a machine of the class described, a hopper having a plurality of compartments adapted to contain strips; a slidable bottom therefor provided with a plurality of raised portions extending into said compartments and adapted in their forward movement to engage the lower strips, said bottom having a plurality of grooves each alined with a raised portion; means for moving said bottom to remove the lower strips in said compartments and subsequently returning said bottom to its normal position; and a twisted guide alined with each compartment and having a bottom extension positioned in a groove.

4:.In a machine of the class described, a hopper having a plurality of compartments adapted to contain strips; a slidable bottom therefor provided with a plurality of raised portions extending into said compartments and adapted in their forward movements to engage the loWer strips, said bottom having a plurality of grooves each alined with a raised portion; means for moving said bottom to remove the lower strips in said compartments and subsequently returning said bottom to its normal position; a twisted guide alined with each compartment and having a bottom extension positioned in a groove; and means for adjusting the height of the delivery end of said guide.

5. In a machine of the class described, a hopper having a plurality of compartments adapted to contain strips; a slidable bottom therefor extending beneath all of said compartments and beyond therear wall thereof; a plurality of narrow plates secured to the rear portion of the upper face of said bottom and adapted in their forward movement to extend into said compartments; means for moving said bottom to cause said plates to engage the lower strips in said compartments and remove them therefrom and subsequently returning said bottom to its normal position.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass, this 13th day of March, 1917.

GEORGE W. BOWERS.

Witnesses:

WALTER E. LoMBARn, NATHAN C. LOMBARD.

Gopiee 0! this patent my be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

